A spokeswoman for Pell said after his arrival in Australia that his return to the country should come as no surprise.

Cardinal George Pell, due to be tried in an Australian court on historical child sex abuse charges, arrived in Sydney on Monday (10 July). The court trial is scheduled for 26 July.

Pell, who has denied all the charges, was escorted by security at the Sydney airport and was whisked away to a waiting car, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Following his arrival in Sydney, a spokeswoman issued a statement saying that the Cardinal's return should come as no surprise and added that Pell will make no comments for now.

"When he was told of the charges by Victoria Police, Cardinal Pell said in Rome he totally rejected the allegations, was completely innocent of the charges and would return to Australia to vigorously defend himself and clear his name," the statement read.

"Cardinal Pell will not be making further comment other than to say he is grateful for the numerous messages of support he continues to receive," it added.

Pell was reportedly seen in Singapore over the weekend, from where he has travelled to Australia. The spokeswoman explained that he had staggered his journey over "several days" in accordance with doctors advice to avoid long-haul flights.